The problem with me trying to be topical is that in the week or so between me writing this and you reading it, events can move on. Last month I wrote about the continued French beef ban. We all know that this has little to do with health concerns, but a lot to do with protecting their markets which they have built up during the past 3½ years. At the time of writing this they have agreed that British beef can be sold in France provided that it is labelled as British. While this is welcome news I fear that the French will continue to find excuses not to buy our beef.
A few people have asked me how I can be critical of the French action and be involved with the Twinning. My answer is that this dispute is with the French Authorities and not with the French people. Also just because you disagree with somebody does not mean that you have to fall out with them.
While commenting on the crisis in agriculture, I have tried to be positive and look forward with confidence. For some time I believed that the drop in prices was relatively short term and we needed to tighten our belts and tough it out until things got better. Although we continue to try to reduce costs, saving perhaps £50 here and £100 there, this does not help much when each 1p per litre cut in the milk price means £6000 of our turnover.
Like many farmers we are now trading at a loss, and I have to question if trying to tough it out is really the best thing to do, or if we should cut our losses and sell up while we still have something to get out with.
The weather so far this autumn has been ideal. We have got the milking cows in now, but we have still got some young stock out. This is a real bonus, as it is not often you are able to keep the stock out so late in Bradworthy. When I say we still have some young stock out, what I really mean is that 5 people could not get 7 heifers out of a field!!